Parker should dump trainer - Samoa PM

In a media conference yesterday, Tuilaepa said the New Zealand Samoan fighter was clearly unfit is his loss to Dillian Whyte in London at the weekend.

"At least three times he had the chance to put his opponent down but he was not fit," he said.

Tuilaepa said he spoke with him after the unification bout loss to Anthony Joshua in April.

"I told him your trainer has reached the end of his knowledge and know how in boxing, he needs to go," said Tuilaepa.

He said Parker's trainer, Kevin Barry, is good at cosying up with the Parker family and will not stop because "that is how he makes his money", suggesting Parker should look at Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, as an alternative.

Samoa declared a half day public service holiday in 2016 to recognise Parker's world title victory against Andy Ruiz.

The government also paid Parker's promoters US$100,000 to support his title defence.

He was awarded an Order of Merit in Samoa's Honours and Awards Investiture list in 2017.